How to Select a Cosmetology College near Pittsboro Mississippi
Once you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Pittsboro MS, the process begins to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the program you pick not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit more about that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Pittsboro home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it’s not always the best option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.
Defining Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Pittsboro MS beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:
- Hairdressers
- Hairstylists
- Beauticians
- Barbers
- Manicurists
- Nail Technicians
- Makeup Artists
- Hair Coloring Specialists
- Estheticians
- Electrolysis Technicians
As already stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees
There are essentially two avenues offered to get cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the main areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Pittsboro MS business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it’s essential to make certain that it’s certified by the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.
Online Cosmetology Courses
Online beauty classes are convenient for Pittsboro MS students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are typically fast paced because many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s imperative that the school you select can provide internship training in local salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to obtain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology profession. So be sure if you choose to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.
What to Ask Cosmetologist Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any cosmetology training program you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Pittsboro MS home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 38951 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Pittsboro MS employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any beauty institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Pittsboro MS salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Mississippi school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a hair salon in Pittsboro MS, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s imperative that he or she gets support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develope relationships with Pittsboro MS businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be available.
Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Pittsboro MS?
If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Pittsboro MS area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.
Pittsboro, Mississippi
Pittsboro is located near the center of Calhoun County at 33°56′19″N 89°20′19″W / 33.93861°N 89.33861°W / 33.93861; -89.33861 (33.938595, -89.338735).[4]Mississippi Highway 9 passes through the village, leading south 6 miles (10 km) to Calhoun City and north 4 miles (6 km) to Bruce.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 212 people, 70 households, and 48 families residing in the village. The population density was 214.1 people per square mile (82.7/km²). There were 83 housing units at an average density of 83.8 per square mile (32.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 76.89% White, 21.23% African American, 0.47% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.42% of the population.
There were 70 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.23.
Select the Right Beauty Training Program near Pittsboro MS
Locating and enrolling in the right cosmetology college is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Pittsboro MS.
Other Beautiful Locations in Mississippi
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
